Trans Woman Comes Out '100 Times A Year' To Mother Who Has Dementia, Her Response Is Always Loving

Coming out to your parents as a trans woman or man is always an emotional experience - a mixture of relief but also fear that they might not accept your decision.

But for Tina Healy, who lives in Melbourne Australia and works as an advocate for Gender Diversity Australia, her mother responds with nothing but love.

Talking to ABC, she said: "My Mum has dementia and quite a few of my family were concerned about what would happen if I came out to Mum, whether she might be too stressed to handle it. And anyway, so when I eventually came out to Mum, I did it early in the morning and she listened. I kept it very simple.

"And she said - at the end of it, she said, 'Well,' she said, 'What do you know?' She said, 'I've got a beautiful new daughter.' And she said, 'Come here, love.' And I cried on her shoulder... it was all wonderful."

She added: "I go and see Mum every few weeks and she's forgotten each time, and every time I tell her again, she gives me just the same beautiful reaction that she did exactly the same, almost word for word every time. I'm kind of the luckiest one of all because I get to come out to Mum 100 times a year, and every time, she's beautiful."

"I'm the luckiest one of all because I get to come out to Mum a hundred times a year and every time she's beautiful."Tina came out as #transgender three and a half years ago and inspired her daughter to write a children's book at the same time.See her story: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4341049.htm

Healy was married, has four adult children and grandchildren, and came out as a trans woman in her 50s. She says that her partner Tess knew she had gender issues before they got married, but Healy thought it was an illness she could overcome.

Talking to ABC, she said: "I think in your 20s, you're idealistic and we thought, "Oh, I can beat this. This is a real illness I've got," and there was something that was wrong with me. But of course it doesn't go away. It always comes back.

"It just got to a point where I think there's a tipping point where you just can't wait anymore. You've waited a long time and it gets to that stage of your life where you need to think of yourself."

12 Caitlyn Jenner Moments

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'I Am Cait'

Shortly after the Vanity Fair cover made its way online, it was confirmed that - after appearing in 'Keeping Up With The Kardashians' for eight years - Caitlyn's journey as a transgender woman would be followed in a new docuseries, 'I Am Cait'.
The decision for the show to air on E! was met with a cold reception from some critics, who felt that the sensational nature of the channel might jeopardise the message of the show, but it was met with rave reviews when it debuted.